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Faecal pH, bile acid and sterol concentrations in premenopausal Indian and white vegetarians compared with white omnivores

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 March 2007

Sheela Reddy ,
T. A. B. Sanders ,
R. W. Owen  and
M. H. Thompson
Sheela Reddy*
Affiliation:
Nutrition Food & Health Research Centre, King's College London, Campden Hill Road, London W8 7AH, UK
T. A. B. Sanders
Affiliation:
Nutrition Food & Health Research Centre, King's College London, Campden Hill Road, London W8 7AH, UK
R. W. Owen
Affiliation:
PHLS Centre for Applied Microbiology and Research, Sensor Development Group, Porton Down, Salisbury, Wiltshire SP4 OJG, UK
M. H. Thompson
Affiliation:
PHLS Centre for Applied Microbiology and Research, Sensor Development Group, Porton Down, Salisbury, Wiltshire SP4 OJG, UK
*
*Corresponding author:Dr Sheela Reddy, present address: Department of Health, Room 638B, Skipton House, London Road, SE1 6LW, UK, fax +44 (0)171 972 5153, email sreddy@doh.gov.uk
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Abstract

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Faecal bulk, pH, water content, the concentrations of neutral sterols and bile acids and dietary intakes were measured in twenty-two Indian vegetarian, twenty-two white omnivorous and eighteen white vegetarian premenopausal women. Faecal bulk and water content were greater and pH lower in the Indian vegetarians. Total faecal animal sterol and coprostanol concentrations expressed on a dry-weight basis were lower in the vegetarians compared with the omnivores. The faecal sterol concentrations were correlated with dietary cholesterol intake. Primary bile acids were detected in six Indian vegetarians, two white vegetarians and two white omnivores; secondary bile acids were detected in all the white omnivore and vegetarian subjects but not in two of the Indian vegetarians. Total faecal free bile acid and conjugated bile acid concentrations were lower in the white vegetarians compared with the omnivores. Faecal lithocholic acid concentrations were lower in both Indian and white vegetarians. The lithocholic: deoxycholic acid ratio and coprostanol: total animal sterols ratio were significantly lower in the Indian vegetarians compared with the omnivores. Both ratios were positively correlated with faecal pH. Stepwise multiple regression analyses were undertaken in order to identify which nutrients influenced faecal pH, lithocholic and deoxycholic acid concentrations. The intakes of starch and dietary fibre were negatively associated with faecal concentrations of lithocholic and deoxycholic acid. Starch intake alone was negatively associated with faecal pH. The results of this study confirm that diets high in dietary fibre decrease faecal bile acid concentrations and suggest that the complex carbohydrates present in Indian vegetarian diets influence faecal pH and inhibit the degradation of faecal steroids.

Keywords

BileLithocholic acidDeoxycholic acidVegetarians
Type
Human and Clinical Nutrition
Information
British Journal of Nutrition , Volume 79 , Issue 6 , June 1998 , pp. 495 - 500
Copyright
Copyright © The Nutrition Society 1998

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